When Is a Doberman Pinscher Full Grown?

by Naomi Millburn

Germany is the Doberman pinscher breed's homeland.

If you're contemplating adding a new pooch to your home, size considerations are relevant for multiple reasons. Some breeds do well in apartments, and others need more room, for example. If you spot a young Doberman pinscher at the shelter, don't assume that the cutie is necessarily all done growing.

Doberman Pinscher Size

Doberman pinschers are tough and strapping dogs with densely packed physiques. Fully grown males usually get to between 26 and 28 inches, when measured from their shoulder regions. Mature females are often just a tad shorter, with typical heights of between 24 and 26 inches. Adult Doberman pinschers usually weigh in the range of 65 to 90 pounds.

Growth of Female Doberman Pinschers

Canines of bigger breeds usually complete the growth process later than their tinier buddies, who frequently achieve physical maturity at roughly a year. As big dogs, Doberman pinschers often need more time. Female Doberman pinschers usually get near their adult heights while they're between 7 and 12 months in age. Their bodies, however, tend to keep developing -- and gaining a little more thickness -- until they're about 2 years old. Doberman pinschers are slower than smaller pooches in the sexual maturity department, too. It sometimes takes females of big breeds up to the age of 2 to go through their initial heat cycle.

Growth of Male Doberman Pinschers

Doberman pinschers frequently attain their adult heights when they're around a year in age, although some exceptions do occur. Like female Doberman pinschers, many males of the breed stop gaining height once they're between 7 and 12 months old. They also develop thicker bodies during this time. Male Doberman pinschers sometimes even tack on some additional height during this time frame, although not a lot. The "thickening" body changes sometimes keep up even when the males are a bit over 2 years in age. Big male dogs are similarly "sluggish" as females regarding reaching reproductive maturity. It occasionally takes them 15 months to achieve sexually mature status.

Exercise Needs

These sizable dogs are full of vitality and liveliness, and therefore need lots of vigorous exercise -- more than canines of many smaller breeds. Swift outdoor walks are beneficial for Doberman pinschers, as are outdoor jogs and runs, as long as the environments are secured. If these big guys don't get plentiful exercise, they often take on behavioral issues as ways of coping with their rising stress levels.